Fruit orientation device



April 17, 1956 E. w. CARROLL 2,742,136

FRUIT ORIENTATION DEVICE Original Filed March 27, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet l 7a E@ 67 2/ /4 3 58 P i; l o o o o o o o 03o o o o o if c, t l I|I I 5,-" 53 a l I [Il 3 T1 1 www d 7 N V EN TUR. cF//s w orf/f H( Carro BMW@ .ll/s Para/vr lrraamey April 17, 1956 E. w. CARROLL FRUIT ORIENTATION DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed March 27, 1950 April 17, 1956 E. W. CARROLL FRUIT ORIENTATION DEVICE Original Filed March 27, 1950 ,4i r" Z /lugulfnfiuu u V/4 56 t i .mh I I 3f) 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Bmfwmw United States Patent FRUIT onrENTArloN DEVICE Ellsworth W. Carroll, Redwood City, Calif., assigner to S & W Fine Foods, inc., San Francisco, Caiit., a con poration of California Original application March 27, 1950, Serial No. 152,069. Divided and this application December 22, 1952, Seriai No. 327,303

The present invention relates to fruit orientators, and more particularly to a device whereby a fruit having a stem indent elongated in the plane of the seam or suture of the fruit may be orientated both as to stem indent and as to suture, preliminary to halving of the fruit, as by saw, for example. This application is a division of my application, Serial No. 152,069, tiled March 27, 1950.

The present invention is a modiiication of` the device shown, described, and claimed in my prior application, Serial No. 98,260, tiled .lune 10, 1949, for Fruit Orientation Devices, and is particularly useful in orientating` peaches.

ln the above identified application I disclosed and claimed apparatus adapted to orientate fruit such as peaches as to indent and seam in two stages. The first stage orientated the fruit as to indent and sometimes as to seam by rotating the fruit by the use of a wheel supporting a major portion of the weight of the fruit, the wheel being changed in its vertical plane of rotation during fruit rotation. As the deepest penetration of the wheel into the indent `takes place when the wheel rotational plane registers with the indent and seam plane, some indent orientation took place on the rotating wheel. The fruit then passed into the second stage where substantially the entire weight of the fruit was supported on an indent shaped member while this member was being oscillated to various vertical planes so that the deepest penetration of the indent shaped member could take place. Thereafter, by withdrawing the indent shaped member in a predetermined position, all fruit properly orientated by the wheel and the indent shaped member would be left in a predetermined position in the rn"- chine, both as to indent and seam, so that further operation, such as inspection and halving could be performed on the fruit. t

It is an object of the present invention to perform both indent and seam orientation in a single stage, and by the use of the same indent fitting member, i. e., the orientating wheel.

it is another object of the invention to provide a relatively simple means for orientating searned fruit having an elongated stem indent both as to indent and seam loca tion.

lt is another object of the present invention to provide a simple mechanism for changing the attitude of an indented fruit while being rotating for indent orientation by an orientation member, such as a wheel.

Brietiy, the present invention includes the use of fruit restraining means holding an indented seamed fruit such as a peach in a position where a major portion of its weight rests on an orientation member, such `a wheel, rotating in a vertical plane. While so resting, the wheel is power driven at all times to rotate the fruit to scan the fruit for the indent and the plane of wheel rotation is changed during the power rotation of the wheel. When theindent and wheei periphery register, the fruit ceases rotation, due to its weight, However, the registry of in 2,742,136 Patented Apr. 17, 1956 ice The present invention may be more fully understood by reference to the appended drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a partial side elevation view of a carrier type machine embodying one preferred form of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view of a wheel oscillating cant track utilized in the machine of Figure 1, taken as indicated by1ine2-2inFigure3- t y i Figure 3 is a vertical view, partly in `elevation and partly in section, of a fruit restraining means taken as indicated by line 3-3 in Figure l.

Figure 4 isa vertical end View mostly in elevation showing a suspension means for the wheel support and drive unit of Figure 3. Y

Figure 5 is a top view of the wheel support unit shown in Figures 3 and 4. i

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view of the wheel and arm structure taken as the cup halves are closing just prior to the beginning of the cam track shown in Figure 2.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary view in elevation `showing the wheel position at the sawing stage. t

Figure 8 is a view similar to that of Figure 4, showing a modiiied orientating wheel.

Figure 9 is a perspective View of the beginning of the cam trackshown in Figure 2. i y t Figure l0 is a plan view of a cam track used with the modified wheel of Figure 8. t

Referring first to Figure 1 for a general description of the machine, a frame 1 supports two spaced pairs vof gears, a front pair 2 and a rear pair 2a these gears rotating in vertical planes to carry therebetween a pair ,of endless carrier chains. 3. Between each front and rear gear, `the chains 3 are supported on the top horizontal edges 4 of two frame plates 5, best shown in section in Figure 3. Frame plates S are supported from frame 1 at each end thereof.

vAt regular intervals, the chains 3 are connected by cross bars 6, as shown in Figure 3, andeach cross bar 6 carries a central horizontal pin 7. Each pin 7 has a pair of opposed arms 9 mounted thereon. The outer ends of cross bars 6 ride on brackets 10 attached to frame plates 5.

The ends of the upwardly extending portions 11 and 12 Vof the opposed arms 9 support opposed, curved cup halves 14 extending upwardly to define a fruit restraining recess 15 shown in Figure 3 as holding a peach P. The lower portions of opposed arms 9 below pin `7 extend downwardly and outwardly to end in opposed spring retainers 16 over which is positioned a compression spring 17 tending to open or force apart the cup halves As seen in Figures 3, 4, 5, and V6, the two upwardly ex4 tending arm portions 11 and 12 are not alike. One arm portion 12 is cut away on the inner side to forma Achannel 20, which, when the opposed arms 9 are closed, sup-` ports a longitudinal rack 21 having vertical teeth 22 thereon. The exterior support of the rack 21 comprises a mounting flange 24 (Figure 1) at the front, only, of the machine, this flange secured to an upright 25 from the main frame 1.

The opposite arm portion 11 is provided with two upper links 26 and two lower links 27 pivotally connected at one end to the side of the arrn, as best shown in Figures 4 and- 5-. The other ends of the links contain two cross pins 29 and 30 pivotally connected to the upper 26 and lower 27 links, respectively. The cross pins 29 and 3i)- are fixedto bushings 3 1 and 32 which encircle a swivel,

shaft 34`freely rotatable in the bushings 31 and 32. Directly above each bushing., and Vpinned to the swivel shaft 34, is a foot 35 of a gear frame 36 containing a rotatable drive shaft 37. An idlerV gear 39, rotatable on the swivel shaft 34, is carried. between the lower gear frame f oot and the upper bushing 31, and this idler meshes with the rack 21 on :one side and a drive shaft gear 49 with gear extension 31 attached to the drive shaft 37 on the other side.

Thus itis seenthat the gear frame 36 is swingable as a unit with'the swivel shaft'34, and is supported to pivot in a vertical plane by reason of the'links 26 and 27.

The drive shaft'37l also carries a bevel gear 42, located above the upper footy 35, and a horizontal wheel stud 44'rnountinga' rotatable bevel pinion45 which meshes.

with the bevel gear 42.v An orientation wheel 46 is fixed to turnwith the bevelpinion 45, this Wheel 46 extending into the bottom of the fruitrestraining recess when the wheel supportand drive unit is inits upper or working position as shown by the solid-line links in Figure 4. The wheel 46 is preferably smooth on its circumference, with a slightly rounded contour. The wheel suspension and driveunit is` supported in a vertical direction asfollows.

Below the lower bushing 32, the swivel shaft 34 terminates in a flat cam,47 horizontally positioned to operate in a cam track 49 as shown in Figures 2 and 9. Cam 47 hasv two rear surfaces 50and S1 joined centrally at 90, these surfaces terminatnglaterally in rounded corners 52. Cam track 49 issupported from the upright 25 at the front end only ofthe machine by a rod 54, and by shoulders 55 on each opposed arm 9. Thus it is seen that as the fruit holding receptacles are progressed along the top horizontal span ofthe machine with the opposed arm 9 closed, as will be described in full later, the cam 47 is slidably supported by the cam track 49 with the links 26 and 27 in their upper positions. Also, at this same time, the idler gear 39`is being rotated by the stationary rack 21 to drive the drive shaft 3 7i and therefore revolve the orientation wheel 46. in vafverticalplane.

Camptrack`49 isprovided with cam blocks 56 alternately jgrositioned` on each side thereofto alternately engage the rounded corner 52 of thecam 47st) that the cam is turned 90 ateachcamY block contact. This turning of the catn 47 rotates the swivel shaft 34 which carries with it the gear frame 36, so. that the wheel 46 is oscillated about its` verticalcenter line, which coincides with the center line. ofy the. swivel shaftl 34. In turning the gear frame, the drive shaft gear 40 merely rolls around on the idler', gear"39, while the, cross pin bushings 31 and` 32, ThusV as the cam 47 and links 26 and 27 do not rotate. passes alongcam track 49, thewheel 46 is positively drivenvat all times and is ipped from one 45 position to another away from. the central vertical plane of the machine, remaining in each deflected position for a time determinedby the length of each cam block 56, and the rate of progression of the carrier.

Referring again to Figures 3, 4, and 6, in conjunction with the remaining figures, a pair of arm cams 57 and 5S is utilized to control the position of opposed arms 9, and one arm cam issupported from each side plate 5 as by cambr'ackets 59, so vthat there is an arm cam on each side of the fruit restraining assembly. The arm cams are adjustable laterally as. by adjustments 60 and 6.1. Arm carns57and 5.8, beginvas each set of opposed cup halves rises round front gears 2.to enter the horizontial portion` of vthe carrier path.

A link c ain l62 (Figure 3), supported by a brace 64 from the left frame plate 5, is also provided before the beginning of the horizontal carrier path. It is the purpose of y'this link cam. 62, whichuextendspparallel to the frame plates 5, to raise the wheel suspension unit to the proper position for entering the starting end of the cam track To this end, a link extension finger 65 is carried by one of the links 27 on each upper arm portion 1l. With no support other than the arm portion 11, the wheel suspension unit is dropped down to occupy the dotted line position shown in Figure 4. As the fruit recesses 15 complete their rise around the front gears 2, the extension` fingers 6 5 come into sliding contact with. the lower side of the link cam 62 andV are forced downwardly relative to the opposed arms 9, thus raising the links 26 and 27, and the wheel mechanism, to its upper, working position in line with the cam track 49;

Prior to reaching the arm cams 57 and 5,8, the cup halves 14 are also spread apart by the spring 17. As the recesses rise, the arm cams 57 and SS'are shaped to come closer together, thereby forcing the cup halves together by contact with the upper portions 11 and 12 of opposed arms S", to a position to hold fruit, graded for a particular machine run, loosely, so that the fruit can be. freely revolved, in the recess 15 formed by the opposed cup halves 14, by the rotating wheel 46.

At the beginning ofl the horizontal portion of the carrierpath, the fruit, such as peaches to be orientated, is loaded, preferably by utilizing the loader disclosed and claimed in my prior application cited above. Essentially, the loader, as shown in Figure l, comprises a star wheel 66 mounted to rotate in a vertical plane on the upright 25 and having four fruit receiving recesses 67 thereon, each recess receiving a fruit from a fruit chute 69.

Star wheel 66 is rotated by a ratchet (not shown) operated by a ratchet arm 70 in turn operated by a vertical ratchet rod 71 driven by a crank 72 on the front end of a longitudinal shaft 74, this shaft being driven from a. main gear box 75 in turn energized by a main motor 76. Gear box 75 also serves as the power output for pro gressing the carrier chains 3, by means of a drive chain 66 is timed so that one peach is dropped into each restraining recess 15 formed as the cup halves 14 reach the top of the front gears 2 to start progression along the horizontal path of the machine.

As the cup halves rise over the front gears 2, the arm cams 57 and 58 and the link cam 62 are so proportioned and curved as to permit the upper portions of the opposed arins 9 to move past the sides of the rack 21, and the cam 47 to move across the top of the rod 65 extending forward from the cam track 49, and then close the upper arm portions to place the rack 21` in the channel 2t), and to center the cam 47 over rod 54 so that the cam can enter the cam track 49 which begins as soon as the upper arm portions 11 and 12 come together in fruit holding position.

The positlonof the fruit restraining assembly just as the upper arm portions are Corning together is. shown in Figure 6. As mentioned before, the orientating wheel 46 is positoned centrally below the restraining recess l5 and at a height such that when the fruit is first loaded,`

the major portion of its weight rests on the rotating wheel 46. This position is shown in Figure 3.

lt is to be noted that the rack 21 and the cam track 49 are supported from the frame at their forward ends only. For the remainder of their lengths, they are sup ported by the moving fruit restraining assemblies. As several asemblies are on the horizontal path of the carrier at one time, and as all the idler gears 39 of these assemblies will be in contact with the rack 21, there is no tendency for the rack 21 to leave thechannels 20.

After the fruit has been rotated in several verticalV planes by the action of the shifting wheel in each receptacle, a large percentage of the fruit will be orientated also have the elongation of vthe indent properly registered with the wheel. l

At a `certain point inthe horizontal path of the carrier, the cam track 49 is providedwith a cam turning block `80 (Figure 2) and with a following straightening block 81 on the opposite side of the camtrack, slightly to the rear of the turning block 80. These latter two r blocks turn the cam 47 in progressively shorter arcs so that the wheel 46 is parallel tothe line of progression of the carrier and centrally positioned below the fruit restraining recess 15.

The sides of the cam track,49 `thereafter are provided with opposite and alternate corner `contacting projections 82 which contact corners 52 of the cam 47 to rapidly oscillate the wheel in vertical planes over short arcs. This action tends to settle the fruit down on the wheel and to rotate the fruit so that the elongation of the seam registers correctly with the plane of the wheel, thus providing additional seam orientation. It is to be noted that after leaving the 90 blocks 56 the rack 21 ends so that the wheel 46 is no longer driven by the rack 21 and is therefore, during this latter seam orientation, not rotatmg.

At the output end lof the machine, a circular saw 84 is mounted on a saw bracket 85 erected from frame 1, this saw being driven by a saw motor 86 and being positioned in the central vertical plane of the machine so that peaches held in the recesses 15 will be bisected by the saw. Y t

Just prior to reaching the saw 84, the arm cams 57 and S are positioned closer to the central plane of the machine, thus causing the fruit to be tirmly grasped by the cup halves 14. Then the cam track 49 is discontinued, thereby allowing the wheel 46 and its drive unit to swing downwardly by gravity to a position out of the path of the saw 84, as shown in Figure 7, and in Figure 4 by the dotted lines. Further progression of the fruit restraining assembly passes the clamped fruit through the saw. When the orientation process as described has been successful, the two halves of the fruit are substantially alike, with half of the indent in each fruit half, and with the saw-cut through the seam of the fruit. In this manner a high percentage of top grade halves is assured.

After the fruit has been halved, it can be discharged for later removal of the pit halves, or the fruit halves may be separated and taken to a pitting station as in the machine of the application cited above, but as this pitting station is no part of the present invention it will not be described herein.

As described before, the action of the shifting wheel, obtained through the use of the cam blocks S6, causes the fruit to be rotated in different vertical planes, and there fore to bring the fruit indent over the wheel periphery, in which position the fruit will stop rotating because of the major portion of its weight now resting on the cup halves 14. This scanning" of the fruit for indent can also be accomplished through the use of an improved orientation wheel, as shown in Figure 8. The new Wheel 46a is provided with a raised helix 90 on the priphery thereof. As this wheel 46a rotates, the fruit is fed sideways while being turned. This permits scanning of the entire fruit surface for stem indent without the necessity for shifting the rotational plane of the wheel through its axis.

Therefore, a cam track 49a, shown in Figure l0, having no turning blocks, may be used with this modified wheel 46a. During the first part of the fruit carrier progression along the machine, the cam 47a, having a downwardly extending ridge 91 aligned with the plane of the wheel 46a, is made to travel straight by a groove 92 cut in the top of the cam track 49a along the center line thereof, in which the ridge 91 is guided. At the very beginning of the cam track 49a, the groove 92 widens to form a V-shaped centering trough 94 so that the cam 47a and the entire wheel suspension unit will be straightened to the desired 6 Y central position if the unit. is in a rotated attitude after beingraised bythe links 26 and 27.

When the arm cams 57 and 58 comet'closer together at the start ofthe horizontal path as described previously, and reach their normal parallel position, the cam ridge 91 has just entered the narrow portion of the groove 92, so that the wheel suspension unit will not tend to twist and bind when the rack 21 and idler gear 39 are meshed in driving position. As also shown in Figure l0, the cam track 49a still retains the oscillating projections 82 to jiggle and settle the fruit after the stem indent has been oriented over the wheel 46a. It will be noted that just ahead of these projections 82, the sides of the groove 92 come to an end, thereby permitting the required wheel oscillation. The rack 21 also ends just before the projections 82 are reached, as in the previous form.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thus provided a device of the character described possessing the particular features of advantage before enumerated as desirable, but which obviously is susceptible of modification in its form, proportions, detail construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the principle involved or sacricing any of its advantages.

While in order to comply with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural features, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific fea tures shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosed comprise the preferred form of putting the invention into effect, and the invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. In an improved device for orientating indented fruit with the indent thereof facing downwardly, the combination of a receptacle for holding a single fruit, a rotating orientation wheel positioned in a vertical plane and protruding through the bottom of said receptacle, and a raised helix on the circumference of said wheel, the vertical position of said wheel being located such that the major portion of the weight of a non-orientated fruit is supported by said wheel and given a scanning rotation thereby, and such that the major portion of the weight of a properly orientated fruit is supported by the bottom of said receptacle and is not rotated by said rotating wheel.

2. Apparatus in accordance with claim l including a carrier, means for progressing said carrier over a horizontal path, a plurality of said vreceptacles mounted on said carrier, means for aligning said rotating wheel in a predetermined central plane during a iirst portion of said path, means for stopping the rotation of said wheel during a later portion of said path, and means for oscillating said wheel about said central plane during said later portion.

3. In an improved device for orientating indented fruit with the indent thereof facing downwardly, a wheel rol tatable on a horizontal axis, means for `maintaining an `indented fruit in contact with the upper periphery of said wheel for rotation by frictional contact with said wheel, said wheel having a raised helix on the peripheral surface thereof, and means for rotating said wheel to provide a scanning rotation of said fruit, said wheel and helix being dimensioned to enter the indent of said fruit upon registry of said periphery and said indent. t

4. In combination, a fruit receptacle, a wheel pro jecting into the bottom of said receptacle to contact a fruit in said receptacle, said wheel being mounted to rotate on a horizontal axis and having a raised helix on the periphery thereof, and means for rotating said wheel on said axis.

5. Means for orientating indented fruit comprising in combination, a carrier, means for progressing said carrier over a horizontal path, a plurality of receptacles on said carrier, a wheel projecting into the bottom ol each receptacle, said wheels being mounted to rotate on horizontal axes, a raised heiixon the circ-u'Inference of each wheel, and means for rotating saidwheels while said; carrier is` progressing.

6. Means for orientating indented; fruit comprising in combination, a carrier, means .for progressingv said carrier over a horizontal path, a pluralityv of receptacles on said carrier, a wheel projecting into` the bottom of each receptacle, said wheels being mounted torotate on horizontal axes, a; raised helix on the circumference of eachV wheel, means for rotating said-A wheels while said carrieris progressing, and means for maintaining rotational axes of all of said wheels in a predetermined position with respect to the direction of progression ofn said carrier.

7, Means for orientating indented fruit comprisingin' combination, a -.carrier,.meansl for progressing: said car rier over a horizontal path, a pluralityof receptacles: on;

said; carrier., aY wheel projectinghinto the bottom: of each receptacle, said wheels; beingfmountedy to rotate on hori zontal axes,l araisedhelix on the circumference of each wheel; means for-rotating said wheels while said carrier is progressing, and means. for maintaining the axes, of

rotation oi said; wheels at rightr angles` toy thev direction of'- 

